Electric sign



April 25, 1939. H. A. FULLER ELECTRIC SIGN Filed 0G11. 29, 1937 I5 lNvENToR HA. FLLZZ e1 BY i S...

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to electric signs of the box type, my principal object being to provide a sign of this general type so constructed that a very clear-cut brilliant and colorful display of the letters or other elements ofthe sign will be obtained with the use of but few light bulbs of small wattage, even in a sign of large size. Consequently the operating cost of the sign will be very low.

As stated, the sign at night is clear and brilliant, and can be seen from great distance, at the same time, there is no glare.

A further object of the invention is to'provide a simple means for causing the sign elements to take on an iridescent appearance, and to apparently change colors somewhat, when viewed from different angles. The sign thus takes on a peculiarly live and glowing appearance which is very elfective in attracting attention. However, this color-change eiect can be avoided if it is not desired by any purchaser.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly elective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a face view of one form of my improved sign.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.

Figure 3` is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the sign, with certain interior parts partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the signstencil, showing a modied color-effect arrangement.

It is here noted that the lining shown in connection with the sign letters, as well as on certain other parts, denotes color.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, and particularly at present to Figs. 1 to 3, the sign structure comprises a rectangular box-like enclosure l, preferably of sheet metal, formed in its opposed vertical side walls 2 with relatively large windows 3.

An inverted T bar 4 may be mounted in upstanding relation along the top of the enclosure, serving not only to brace the same but also as a means of connection for a wall bracket or other supporting member.

To hide this bar from view when looking at either wall 2, and to also aid in strengthening the enclosure, said side walls are provided with longitudinal upstanding extensions 5, projecting up-` wardly to a level above that of bar 4. 5

Formed with the walls 2 above and below the corresponding windows are parallel inwardly projecting ledges 6. The top pair of ledges, the corresponding portions of the side walls, the exten- I Y sions 5 and the top wall of the enclosure, are 10 preferably formed by suitably bending the metal to shape, so that all these parts are integral with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom ledges and adjacent parts are similarly formed.- This construction may however be varied as the 15 general shape or size of the sign may require.

. Seated on and extending between the ledges of one window immediately inside the same is a pane 'l of clear glass. Behind this is an opaque stencil sheet 8 through which are cut openings 9 forming the various letters or other symbol or designs for the desired sign. The pane 1 not only protects the stencil and the interior of the sign enclosure from the elements, but may also serve as a support onwhich to cement the central por- 25 tions of certain letters (such as O and D) and which otherwise would require connecting bars across the letter-forming openings, as is usual in stencil practice, but which detracts from the clean cut appearance of the letters.

The openings!! are covered on the back of the stencil with transluscent strips I0 of brightly colored material of va preferably glazed or shiny nature such as cellophane.

The various strips used are preferably dif- 35 ferentlyfcolored as indicatedV in Fig. 3 and they extend some distance beyond the sign openings themselves. On the 'stencil area not covered by the strips Ill, I may mount various other similar strips Il of still different colors.

Immediately behind the stencil and strips thereon and also extending between and supported by ledges 6 is another translucent clear glass pane l2, the inner face of this pane however is not smooth but rippled as at I3, or otherwise finished to deilect light rays in all directions out of a straight path, and it is by the use of glass of this nature (which can be purchased in the open market) that I am able to obtain the results as set forth in the preamble, and as. will be seen later.

Illuminating means for the sign is provided in the form of light bulbs I4 in the enclosure I.

These light bulbs are preferably disposed ad-v jacent the four corners of the enclosure centrally of the width thereof and also along the top and bottom of the same at intervals if necessary. In any event however, these bulbs must not project inwardly of the plane of the window openings where their rays might directly project through some of the sign'openings, unless a very fiery effect is desired. v

Concave reflectors I5 are disposed in opposed relation along the top and bottom of the enclosure. These reectors extend and are secured against the ledges B along their inner edges; thus leaving enclosed spaces between the walls of the enclosure, the ledges and the adjacent portions of the reflectors which form conduits for the reception of the necessary circuit wires for the light bulbs. Y

To prevent any possibility of over-heating, or sweating, of the interior of the sign enclosure, I provide screened Ventilating louvers I6 in the end walls of the enclosure.

As a result of this construction, the light rays from the various bulbs, striking the adjacent riflied surfaces of panes I2, are broken up and thrown inV all directions, both magnifying the light and diffusing the same evenly throughout the enclosure. The illumination of the signforming openings is therefore even, although the light bulbs themselves are not centered relative to the sign. The light rays are also deflected in Y, vall directions as they pass through the rippled glass and thence through the color-backed sign openings to the outside. This gives the sign openings a brilliant and glowing appearance without any glare. Very small wattage bulbs may also be eiectively used without any tendency to give the sign a dimly lighted appearance. As a matter of fact, 11A,l watt bulbs have been found to-give ample illumination in a double-faced sign about 18" x 80 in size, and although more bulbs would be necessary in a relatively large sign, the cost of operation in any event Will obviously be very small.

At the same time, the other differently coloredV strips II while offset from the main sign-color controlling strips I 0, are also acted on by the light rays, and colored rays from these strips II are thrown transversely of the sign enclosure where they affect and variegate the coloring of strips I 0 on the opposite side of the enclosure.

'Due to the position of these strips II and to the rippled glass, their visual eiect on the sign is diiierent when the sign is viewed from dierent angles, so that the impression on the beholder is that of an iridescent sign of constantly changing colors. v if the strips I0 themselves are differently colored,

This iridescent action is also aided by the rays reflected from those portions of these strips which extend beyond the sign openings.

If it is desired to heighten this color changing and iridescent action, I may suspend a hollow translucent variegated-color member I1 centrally in the enclosure, where it will be affected and moved about by the current of air passing beshown a double-faced box sign of rectangular form, with the same sign on both faces, the sign matter may diier on said faces, and the sign enclosure may be of any desired shape.

Also,

I may make the sign of the single face reflectorbacked type if desired.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fuliills the objects of the invention vpresent and preferred construction of the device,

still in practice such deviations from such detail n may be resorted to as do not form a departure from'the spirit of the invention, as definedV by n the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure byV Letters Patent is: f

An electricA sign comprising an opaque hous- 'mg having a window in one side, apaque means covering the window and having sign forming openings, a pane of translucent glass in the housing behind said means, the inner face of the pane being rippled, an electric light in the housing, translucent colored strips over and extending beyond the sign formingV openings and dis- `posed against the front face of the pane, another translucent pane of glass in the casing behind and spaced from the i'lrst pane and whose face adjacent the inner face of said i'lrst pane is rippled, and additional sheets of-glazed-surface mai terial colored differently from the color strips disposed in spaced relation to each other against the side of the last named pane opposite the rippled face thereof. Y

HERMON A. FULLER. 

